Recently, I was reminded of what exceptional professional networking looks like through an experience shared by one of my LinkedIn connections, John Hall, of Crux-Xcelerate and ZoomGrants. His encounter with Jack Cowden, a young professional with Sporting Kansas City, exemplifies the art of making meaningful connections.
John met Jack briefly at the Plaza Lighting Ceremony in Kansas City last November. After a short conversation, Jack asked if they could meet for coffee sometime. John agreed, responding with an “absolutely, just let me know when.”
What followed was what John described as a “master-class” in networking and personal brand presentation. Jack’s approach was methodical, thoughtful, and impressively professional:
- Just a few days later, Jack requested a specific day and time to meet;
- He sent a calendar invite with a location conveniently close to John;
- He confirmed their meeting a day before to ensure it was still on;
- He arrived precisely on time;
- His handshake was confident and comfortable, accompanied by good eye contact;
- He brought a pad to take notes;
- He asked compelling questions and had clearly researched John beforehand;
- He respected John’s 45-minute time constraint;
- At the 40-minute mark, he asked John for the three best pieces of advice he would give to a young sports business executive; and
- Afterward, John received a handwritten thank you note that recapped the three pieces of advice.
Throughout their conversation, Jack remained completely focused. He listened with genuine intent to understand rather than simply waiting for his turn to speak. As John noted, Jack made an excellent first impression—something we all know you don’t get a second chance to achieve.
By the way, the three pieces of advice John shared with Jack were: a) be authentic, b) be consistent, and c) become a mentor. More on those another time…
Jack’s networking approach demonstrates that making professional connections isn’t just about meeting new people—it’s about how thoughtfully and respectfully you conduct yourself throughout the entire process.
Happy Networking!